€5.5m boost for city's 'Medieval Mile'

Kilkenny City is to benefit from a €5.5 million investment for the ‘Medieval Mile’ tourism project, it was announced this morning by Failte Ireland and Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan.

The Medieval Mile will stretch from Kilkenny Castle to St Canice’s Cathedral, with the first phase of the plan – three specific projects – set to come about from this funding. A museum at St Mary’s Church, a ‘Great Garden’ along the River Nore, and the upgrading of the visitor experience, are part of an overall €15-million scheme to make the city a “must-see” destination for overseas visitors to Ireland.

Mayor of Kilkenny Sean O’ hArgain has welcomed the announcement of funding as the next step in a major upgrade to improve the city’s tourism offering.

“This announcement is the culmination of decades of work in developing this city by the elected members of two very progressive councils, our officials and an excellent alliance of interests including the business and community and voluntary sectors who have in common our determination to continuously strive to make Kilkenny the best small city in which to live, to do business in or to visit,” he said.

Quotes & Facts

On learning that Bishop Kearney was buried in a tomb within St Canice’s Cathedral;

“I have to admit it was very exciting and it was great to finally prove conclusively that Barack Obama’s sixth generation grand uncle was the Bishop of Ossory who died in Kilkenny city at the Bishop’s Palace in 1813. It is now the headquarters of the Heritage Council."

Local Academic Gabriel Murray

The elevation of Kilkenny is 60 metres (200 ft) above sea level. The area of Kilkenny borough is 3.74 square kilometres (1.44 sq mi). Kilkenny is the smallest city in Ireland and although all cities in Ireland are by the coast or along a river Kilkenny is the only city that is not tidal.

The gravestone of Daniel O’Connell in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin is made from Kilkenny black marble, and the stone was also used in the construction of Cobh Cathedral in Cork

Collectively, Kilkenny people are known as 'The Cats', most specifically in the arena of hurling

In 1922, the Butler family - namely Lord and Lady Ossory - were residents of the castle. The Irish Civil war, raged around them. Lord Ossory memorably wrote that he was woken at the "unreasonable hour of 5.30am" by his butler, who brought the news that Republican forces had seized and occupied his castle.

The architect who built the White House in Washington, D.C., James Hoban, was raised on the Earl of Desart’s estate in Cuffesgrange, near Callan in Co. Kilkenny.